Tool for removing and sealing containers



TOOL FOR REMOVING AND SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 25, 1946 James D. Bye rs Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR REMOVING AND SEALING CONTAINERS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a can lid applying tool and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be readily employed by a person to return to effective position the lid of a conventional paint can or the like and in a manner whereby the liability of injury to either the lid or can is substantially eliminated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tool of this kind which can be employed to return the lid of a paint can into closed position in a manner whereby said lid is tightly and securely placed in position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool of this kind which is particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with that type of can and lid wherein the lid when applied effectively seals the contents of the can from the outside atmosphere and it is, furthermore, the purpose of the invention to provide a tool of this kind which is adapted particularly to be used by the consumer rather than by manufacturers or other persons handling a large number of cans.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved can lid applying tool whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and in an extended and unoperative adjustment;

Figure 2 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the tool in working position;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the use of the tool to remove a lid,

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, A denotes a long, fiat arm of metal or other material possessing requisite rigidity and one end portion of the member is tapered off, as at I, to provide a blade which can be employed with facility and advantage in the removal of a lid L from the can C.

The tool as herein embodied is especially designated for use in connection with that type of can wherein the lid L when applied to the can C effects a seal of the content of the can against outside air and wherein the can C at its top or open end is defined by an inwardly disposed surrounding flange 2 provided with a continuous channel 3 pressed out therefrom and the walls of which possess a certain degree of inherent resiliency.

The lid L in its peripheral portion has pressed outwardly and downwardly therefrom a continuous or surrounding flange 4 substantially U- shaped in cross section and which is tightly received in the groove or channel 3 of the flange 2 as is well known in the trade and to which no particular claim is made as to novelty.

The upper or top portion of the can C is also defined by an externally disposed surrounding bead 5.

Associated with the member A is a lever handle H of desired length and which is of channel formation and has its intermediate base portion at one extremity cut away to provide the projecting ears 6 which are disposed at opposite sides of the member A at a desired point inwardly of an extremity thereof and through said ears 6 and the adjacent portion of the member A is disposed a rivet 'l or other pivot member whereby the lever H may readily have required or desired rocking movement with respect to the member A.

Snugly fitting within the lever H at a desired point inwardly from the pivot 'l is a plate 8 which is provided with an extended elongated finger 9. The plate 3 is so positioned on the lever H as to be slightly spaced outwardly from the adjacent end of the member A when the 1ever H and the member A are in substantial longitudinal alignment, although, of course, the spacings between this plate 8 and the adjacent end of the member A may be varied within certain limitations without in any way deteriorating the efficiency or effectiveness of the tool.

When the member A and lever H are in substantial alignment it is to be noted that the finger 9 is disposed on an inward angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member A and preferably on an angle of approximately 30 although, of course, this degree of angularity may be varied as the requirements of practice may deem best.

In the present embodiment of the invention the end of the member A adjacent to the lever H is substantially straight and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the member A and the extremities of this end edge I0 are slightly rounded, as at Il whereby an effective fulcrum is provided for having rolling action upon the side wall of a can during a working operation. The rounded corner however, is only required at the end of the end edge III directly opposed to the lever H.

The method of using the tool as herein embodied can be readily understood from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing. Initially, the lid L is placed on the can as firmly as can be accomplished by hand and after which finger 9 is fitted within the groove or channel 3 at the peripheral portion of the lid L with the outer rounded corner H of the member A in engagement with the wall of the can C immediately below the bead 5. In this position as clearly shown in the drawing finger 9 will be disposed downwardly and outwardly on an incline and the member A will be disposed lengthwise on an upward incline. Pressure upon the outer portion of the member A will result in the finger 9 being forced inwardly within the groove or channel 3 of the lid L with resultant sufficient `pressure to force that portion of the flange of the lid L within the groove or channel of the can. It is to be particularly noted that the pressure afforded by the finger 9 will be directly opposed to the adjacent end of the member A whereby the member A provides an effective reinforcing or placing of such pressure as imposed upon the wall of the can and thus eliminating liability of distortion of the can wall.

This operation is continued at spaced points around the can C until the lid L has been effectively returned to its sealed mounting upon the can.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a can lid applying tool constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A tool for forcing a sealing flange of a lid into a sealing groove of a can comprising a long arm, a lever pivotally joined at one extremity to the arm at a point inwardly of an end of the arm, whereby the arm and lever may be brought into aligned relation, and a finger carried by the lever at its pivoted end to engage the lid, the finger being directed obliquely of the length of the lever, the adjacent end of the arm being adapted for engagement from without with the wall of the can when the lever is swung to an obtuse angular relation with the arm.

2. A tool for forcing a sealing flange of a lid into a sealing groove of a can, comprising a relatively long fiat arm member, a long lever member formed at one end to provide two spaced parallel portions, said arm being positioned at a point inwardly of one end between said spaced portions, a pivot member connecting the arm and the said spaced portions of the lever, the said end portion of the arm being movable upon the pivot in to a position between the portions of the lever where the arm and lever are in longitudinal alignment, and a finger secured to the lever at a point inwardly from the two spaced portions thereof and adjacent to the said end of the arm, said nger being formed for engagement with the sealing flange and the said end of the arm being adapted to engage beneath the flange of a can rim when the arm and lever are angularly disposed.

3. A tool of the character stated in claim 2. wherein said finger extends from a longitudinal edge of the lever at an oblique angle toward the end to which the arm is pivoted.

JAMES D. BYERS.

Name Date Sands Dec. 17, 1889 Number 

